Africa in Oregon Day
September 28, 2007
Schedule of Events
Morning Town Hall, Knight Library Browsing Room 9-1pm By Invitation Only
9:00 Registration - sign in, name tags, pastries and coffee
9:15 Welcome (Stephen Wooten, UO African Studies)
9:30 Round table meeting
Introductions of each participant and project (16 scholars, 10 NGOs registered)
10:15 am Break out discussion sessions by themeNGOs
College/University scholars and reps/Educators
Noon Lunch and Keynote speaker (Ancient Ways)
1pm NGOs - Break and transition to amphitheater, vendors set-up at supplied tables
-or-
Scholars - Future directions: Africa in Oregon Consortium (Dennis Galvan, UO African Studies)
Afternoon Fair, EMU Amphitheater 1pm-4pm
Vendors/Info Tables
Performers
1:45-2:45 - Vakasara Mbira Ensemble
Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center
Zimbabwean Music performance
3:00-4:00 - Hokoyo Marimba Ensemble
Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center
Zimbabwean Music performance
About Africa in Oregon Day
WHO: Organized by UO African Studies
African Studies at UO is a new and quickly growing area studies program. What began in 2005 as a committee of professors whose work focuses on Africa, has grown – with the help of a $170K Department of Education Title VI-a UISFL Grant – into an undergraduate minor program with quarterly guest speakers, annual faculty seed grants, new African language offerings, a vibrant Artist in Residency program, and enhanced Africana library holdings that benefit the entire university. With future funding pending, the program intends to continue developing these and new elements of the African Studies Program.
WHAT: Among our goals is to build a strong community of Oregon Africanists. We are hosting a day of networking and celebration among Africanist scholars, advocacy organizations, and performers dispersed throughout Oregon.
WHO: The participants of Africa in Oregon Day will come to the UO campus from all over the state of Oregon. We expect 40 participants: 15 professors and educators from outside UO, 10 professors from UO, three performance groups, and 12 organization representatives.
WHY: The purpose of the fair is to raise awareness on the UO campus of African issues, celebrate diversity, promote Africa-related classes and internships, and publicize the African Studies minor. The symposium will become an annual meeting and hub for networking among Oregon University System Africanist scholars and statewide NGOs, thereby reducing isolation among Oregon Africanists and strengthening this vital community. Building partnerships and community among Oregon scholars, groups, and organizations will lead to shared resources and educational discourse among Africanist colleagues around the state. The symposium and fair will benefit participants, UO student and general Eugene populations, and will establish UO as a valuable point of entry for statewide academic and community